Life, 1923-06-14 · page 18 of 44
Life — June 14, 1923 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical commentary on U.S.-China relations through comparative cultural "achievements." **"Reciprocity with China"** (left column): The primary humor relies on a condescending, imperialist framework. The piece acknowledges Chinese inventions (gunpowder, paper, tea, etc.) but immediately "counters" with American "improvements" or uses. The underlying joke targets American smugness—suggesting America has perfected or commercialized Chinese innovations. Notably, items like foot-binding and "discordant music" mock Chinese culture itself. The final jab about rice-throwing at weddings is purely derisive. **"It Can't Be Done"** (right): A brief joke asserting that modern Hollywood films cannot exist without police presence—commentary on cinema's dependence on law-and-order narratives. **Top cartoon**: Shows people dining on Arctic fare (walrus, whale blubber), likely mocking exotic food trends among the wealthy or immigrant cuisine stereotypes. The page reflects early 20th-century American attitudes: condescension toward non-Western cultures masked as witty comparison, and casual cultural stereotyping considered acceptable humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Br wan + AG “My dear, I wish you could have been at Mrs. Uniak’s dinner party. She gave us walrus fat soup, minced blubber with whale oil sauce, and the most delicious sliced tallow candles I Reciprocity with China HE Chinese gave us gun- powder. But what would they do without the washing powder we gave them? eK The Chinese are responsible for chop suey. But Americans are the only ones that eat it. *** The Chinese first made white paper. But the yellow journal is distinctly a local product. xe * The Chinese discovered tea. But America furnishes the tea hounds, aK The Chinese originated binding the feet. But feminine American vanity made it stylish, ** The Chinese invented discordant music, But our song writers are preserving it for all time. ** The Chinese originated gam- bling with cards. But Wall Street is.our invention. * eK The Chinese were first to grow rice. But we are the ones that first thought of throwing it. ever tasted.” The Chinese gave joss Sticks to the world. But what good would they be without our Jersey mos- quitoes? xe The Chinese gave us Mah Jongg. But the income tax blank is our own idea. * Neal O'Hara. + sg Bo es ee It Can’t Be Done RICKS without straw were possible, no doubt, Or even “Hamlet” with the Dane left out; But never, for a solitary minute, A photoplay with no policeman in it. S.K. ~< “Isn’t your little sister cute “Yes'm. We're both cute.” comicbooks.com